Ignition system



July 28, 1936. RABEZZANA I 2,048,890

IGNITION SYSTEM Filed Sept; 10, 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet l July 28, 1936 H.RABEZZANA IGNITION SYSTEM Filed Sept. 10, 1934 2 Sheets-Sheet 1wWafiezzmw I I Sll'oznoub Patented July 28, 1 936 UNITED STATES PATENTOFFICE IGNITION SYSTEM Hector Rahezzana, Flint, Mich., assignor toGeneral Motors Corporation, Detroit, Mich.,-a cor 'poration of MichiganApplication September 10, 1934, Serial No. 143,357

' Claims.

breaker. The secondary of the transformer supplies energy to the plugsthrough the conventional distributor. In such systems it is common tooperate the circuit breaker and distributor 15 from a common auxiliaryshaft driven in any suitable manner from the crankshaft or auxiliaryshafts, but at a speed equal to one-half that of the engine crankshaft.This reduction in speed requires the use of gearing or sprocket chains,and even with the best of constructions there is a certain amount ofplay or lash in the engagement of the teeth, or of the chain with thesprocket. This play is variable, depending on the fit and wear of theparticular engaging parts, and, of course, increases with the use of theengine. This play I have found to seriously interfere with theperformance of the engine and with the regularity of its firing. Thereason for this is that it is the breaking of the current through theprimary by operation of the circuit breaker that determines the time ofsparking at the plug. If sparking does" not take place at the propertime in the engine cycle, loss of power and irregularity in firingresults. I have found that this trouble may be avoided by mounting thecircuit breaker directly on the engine crankshaft so that there is noopportunity for play to develop during the life of the engine. As aconsequence firing always takes place at the same time in the cycle withthe resultant substantial increase in efliciency and in smoothness ofthe engine.

While it is important that there be no lash in the drive for the circuitbreaker, the performance of the engine is not affected by small amounts5 of play in the distributor or its drive. Passage of current can takeplace between the distributor brush and contacts throughout a wideangular' range of movement of the brush without aifecting the time orcharacter of ignition at the spark plug. I, therefore, found itdesirable for convenience in design, assembly and repair to drive thedistributor by flexible shafting in any suitable manner. This permitsmounting of the distributor and coil at any convenient place about theengine. It is advantageous to locate the distributor close to the sparkplugs, thereby permitting the use of a compact and simple wiring harnesshaving a minimum of capacity losses. This arrangement also makes it easyto shield the wiring to prevent interference with radio transmission. 5

In the drawings: Figure 1 indicates diagrammatically the wiring diagramof a conventional high tension battery ignition system for a sixcylinder engine, together with the manner of driving the circuit breaker10 and distributor as disclosed in this application.

Figure 2 is a side view of an engine equipped with the improved system,together with a special arrangement of wiring harness.

Figure 3 is an end view of the engine of Fig- 15 ure 2.

Figure 4 is a partial sectional view taken on line 4-4 of Figure 2.

Figure 5 is a side view showing a modified form of mounting.

Figure 6 is an end view of the arrangement 0 Figure 5.

Figure '7 is a view of the top of an engine showing a furthermodification.

Figure 8 is a partial section through an engine equipped with thearrangement shown in Figure 7.

In Figure 1 B indicates the battery supplying current through circuitbreaker C to primary P of the transformer or coil as it is commonlycalled. The breaker points are protected from sparking by condenser 8shunted about them in accordance with usual practice. S indicates thesecondary supplying current to the distributor D which, in turn,supplies energy to the spark plugs, one of which is shown at l0. l2indicates the crankshaft of the engine which in case of a six cylinderengine is provided with a three lobed cam l4'that intermittentlyseparates the contacts of the circuit breaker as shown. This action 40takes place when the distributor arm I6 is in the position indicated inwhich it is substantially opposite one of the fixed contacts connectedto a plug. The distributor arm 16 is indicateddiagrammatically as drivenby flexible shaft l8 from shaft 20, driven by suitable reduction gearingfrom the crankshaft l2 at one-half engine speed.

With this ignition system the breaking of the primary circuit at thebreaker causes a sudden demagnetization of the core of the transformer,producing a surge of high tension current in the secondary which causesa spark to pass at the plug to which the distributor directs energy. Itis obvious that with this arrangement the breaking of the circuit by thecircuit breaker occurs at the same time in the engine cycle throughoutits entire life. Since the cam I4 is rigid with the shaft, there is noopportunity for lash to develop. Adjustment of the breaker points may beprovided for as in conventional constructions.

It will be noted that the distributor is driven as usual at one-halfcrankshaft speed to care for the fact that in the conventionalfour-cycle en- 1 running along the side of the engine. 30 indicatesconductors embedded in the housing extensions and runnings to clips ormetallic sockets 32 adapted to connect with the central electrodes ofthe spark plugs, one of which is indicated diagrammatically at H] inFigure 3. i

As a convenient method of installation the housing 26-28 is shown asprovided with integral extensions 34 pivoted to the engine on alinedhorizontal shafts as shown. With this arrangement the, housing 26-28 maybe tilted away from the engine and thereby simultaneously disconnectedfrom all of the plugs, the flexible shaft permitting such action.

An additional feature of this assembly consists in the mounting of thetransformer in housing 36 which may also serve as the cover of thedistributor.

In Figures 5 and 6 there is shown a slight modification in that theextensions 28' .of the dis tributor housing are mounted on studs 40secured in the cylinder head. 'By removing the nuts 42 the ignitionassembly may be disconnected from the plugs, the flexible shaftpermitting it to be moved to a convenient position.

Figures 7 and 8 show a slight modification of Figures 5 and 6 in thatthe distributor housing 44 and its extensions 46 are made of metal, andis adapted to be secured to the top of the engine over the plugs II) bymeans of suitable studs and nuts 48 as commonly used in securing thevalve covers to engine blocks. As indicated in Figure 8 the extensions46 carry clips 50 suitably insulated from the housing, adapted to supplycurrent to the plugs.

The flexible shaft used to drive the distributor may be driven from anysuitable shaft olT'the engine, such as the cam shaft, generator shaft,or pump shaft. Obviously, also the distributor may be located at anyconvenient point on the engine, preferably near the spark plugs.

This improved system has proven especially advantageous in connectionwith dual ignition systems in which two spark plugs are supplied foreach cylinder and a separate transformer and circuit breaker is employedfor each set of plugs. The circuit breakers may be conveniently operatedfrom the same cam on the crankshaft and the distributormay be providedwith suitable contacts to simultaneously close the circuit to two sparkplugs instead of one. A convenient design of distributor for thispurpose is disclosed in the patent to Hartzell, 1,877,806, grantedSeptember 20, 1932.

I claim: r

1. In combination with an internal combustion engine comprisingcylinders and pistons, a crankshaft to which the pistons are connected,and igniting devices in said cylinders, and an ignition systemcomprising a circuit breaker having the operating part thereof mountedon the crankshaft, and a distributor supplied with energy at timesdetermined by operation of said circuit breaker, means for driving saiddistributor from the crankshaft at a different rate of speed, saiddistributor being provided with connections for successively supplyingenergy to said igniting devices.

2. In combination with a four cycle internal combustion enginecomprising cylinders and pistons, a crankshaft to which the pistons areconnected, and igniting devices in said cylinders, an ignition systemcomprising a circuit breaker having the operating part thereof mountedon the crankshaft, and a distributor supplied with energy at timesdetermined by said circuit breaker, means for driving said "distributorfrom the crankshaft at one-half crankshaft speed, said distributor beingprovided with connections for supplying energy to said igniting devices.I

3.-The combination of a multicylinder four cycle internalcombustionengine comprising the usual engine shaft, and an ignitionsystem including a circuit controlling device mounted on the engineshaft and actuated thereby, said circuit controlling device determiningthe timing of-the sparks at the ignition devices in the cylinders, adistributor for directing sparking impulses to the ignition devices in.succession, and

- means for driving the distributor at twice engine speed.

4. The combination of a multicylinder internal combustion enginecomprising the usual engine shaft, and an ignition system including acircuit controlling device mounted on the engine shaft and actuatedthereby, said circuit controlling device determiningthe timing of thesparks at the ignition devices in the cylinders, a distributor fordirecting sparking impulses to the ignition devices in succession, saiddistributor being arranged adjacent the ignition devices to reducecapacity losses and shorten the leads to the ignition devices, and meansfor driving the distributor at a different rate of speed than the engineshaft.

5. The combination of a multicylinder internal combustion enginecomprising the usual engine shaft, and an ignition system including acircuit controlling device mounted on the engine shaft and actuatedthereby, said circuit controlling device determining the timing of thesparks at'the ignition devices in the cylinders, a distributor fordirecting sparking impulses to the ignition devices in succession, saiddistributor being arranged adjacent the ignition devices to reducecapacity losses and shorten the leads to arranged adjacent the ignitiondevices to reduce capacitylosses and shorten the leads to the ignitiondevices, and means including a flexible shaft for driving thedistributor from the engine shaft.

7. The combination of a multioylinder four cycle internal combustionengine comprising the usual engine shaft, and an ignition systemincluding a circuit controlling device mounted on the engine shaft andactuated thereby, said circuit controlling device determining the timingof the sparks at the ignition devices in the cylinders, a distributorfor directing sparking impulses to the ignition devices in succession,said distributor being arranged adjacent the ignition devices to reducecapacity losses and shorten the leads to the ignition devices. meansincluding a flexible shaft for driving the distributor from the engineshaft but at twice engine speed, and a spark coil mounted in proximityto the distributor.

8. In an internal combustion engine the combination of ignition devices,a distributor for distributing sparking impulses to the ignitiondevices, detachable means for supporting the distrlbutor adjacent theengine, and driving means for the distributor adapted to permitdismounting of the distributor while maintaining the parts in drivingrelation.

9. The combination of a multicylinder internal combustion enginecomprising the usual engine shaft and ignition devices, a distributorfor distributing sparking. impulses .to the ignition devices, detachablemeans for mounting the distributor on the engine, and means for drivingthe distributor from the engine shaft including flexible shaitingpermitting the dismounting of the distributor from the engine whilemaintaining the parts in driving relation.

10. In an internal combustion engine the combination of ignitiondevices, and an ignition assembly comprising a distributor fordistributing sparking impulses to the ignition devices and leads goingfrom the distributor-to the ignition devices and having detachableengagement there- -with, detachable means for supporting the assemblyadjacent the engine, and means for driving the distributor arranged topermit dismounting of the assembly while maintaining the parts indriving relation.

11. The combination of a-multicylinder internal combustion enginecomprising the usualengine shaft and ignition devices, and an ignitionassembly comprising adistributor for distributing sparking impulses tothe ignition devices and leads extending from-the distributor and havingdetachable connection with the ignition devices, detachable means forsuporting the assembly on the engine, and means for driving thedistributor from the engine shaft including flexible shafting permittingthe dismounting oi the assembly from the engine while maintaining thepartsin driving relation. a

12. In an internal combustion engine the combination of ignitiondevices, and an ignition assembly comprising a distributor fordistributing sparking impulses to the. ignition devices, a spark coil,and leads extending from the distributor and having detachableconnection with the ignition devices, detachable means forsupporting'the' assembly on the engine, and means for driving thedistributorincluding flexible shatting permitting the dismounting of theassembly from the engine while maintainingthe parts in driving relation.

13. The combination of an internal combustion engine having ignitiondevices, leads having detachable connection with said ignition devices,and a unitary support for said leads pivoted to the engine.

14. The combination of an internal combustion engine having ignitiondevices, leads having detachable connection with said ignition devices,a unitary support for said leads pivoted to the engine, and adistributor carried by said support.

15.The combination of an internal combustion engine having ignitiondevices, a support pivoted to the engine adjacent said devices, saidsupport carrying leads having detachable connection with said ignitiondevices, together with a distributor and spark coil.

HECTOR RABEZZANA.

CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION. Patent No. 2,048,890. July 28, 1936.

HECTOR RABEZZANA.

It is hereby certified that the. State of Incorporation of the assigneein the above numbered patent was erroneously given as "Michigan",whereas said State should have been given as Delaware, as shown by thereco d o assignments inthis office; and that the said Letters Patentshould be read with this correction therein that the same may conform tothe record ofthe case in the Patent Office.

Signed and sealed this 29th day of September, A. D. 1936.

Henry Van Arsdal'e Acting Commissioner-of Patents.

